Antirattle dovetail for doors



Nov. 22, 1932. RE 1,888,830

ANTIRATTLE DOVETAIL FOR DOORS Filed Jan. 50, 1931 E 1 83 A? f 32 A TTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 22. 1932 RAYIVIOND Gr. MOORE, OF BEIDGEBOBJT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BASSICK COMPANY, OF IBEIDGEPOE'I, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT ANTTRA'ITLE DOVETAIL FOR DOORS Application filed January 30, 1931.

The present invention relates to improvements in self-adjusting anti-rattle dovetails, particularly for automobile doors, an object bein to provide a device of this character 3 which will prevent the rattle usually resulting from the vibration and weaving of the doors, effectually retaining the same against vertical movement, while at the same time compensating for lateral movement and wear. in the usual type of dovetail a socket member is provided having vertically yieldable dovetail members between which a wedge piece is engaged, and while these tended to dampen the vibration they did not effectually prevent it. it is particularly proposed to provide a device in which a socket member is provided with pivotally mounted resiliently supported dovetail members adapted to have a wedge member engaged be- '3 tween them, the respective dovetail members being supported against vertical movement. Another object is to provide a device in which the vertical pressure will be taken along a given line of the door frame in any position of engagement of the door. Another object is to provide such a device which will compensate for wear and also for variations in the vertical and lateral alignment of the door.

Another object is to provide a device which while holding the door against vertical vibrations will exert on outward force on the same in such manner that the latch of the door is held firmly against the striker plate and upon release of the latch will press the door open.

l Vith the above and other objects in view an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the socket member, and showing in dot-and-dash lines the relation of the wee ge member as it first engages in closing the door.

Fig. 2 is a forward edge view thereof, and also showing the wedge member in dot-anddash lines.

Serial No. 513,384.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the wedge member.

Fig. 4 is an edge View thereof.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the socket member, with the cover plate removed.

Fig. 6 is an edge View thereof.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 77 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation, and showing the wedge member in section and in the engaged relation with the door closed.

Similar reference characters indicate corr sponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the device, ac-

cording to the present embodiment of the invention, comprises a socket member adapted to be secured to the door frame within a suitable cutout recess, and a wedge member adapted to be secured to the edge of the door in relation to enter the socket member upon closing of the door.

he casing of the socket member comprises an outer part consisting of a face plate member 10 preferably formed of sheet metal, having a flange 11 at its forward edge bent inwardly at a right angle, and a lip 12 bent forwardly from the flange 11. A rearwardly converging opening 13 is provided in the face plate and extends across the flange 11 to the lip 12.

Screw holes 14 are provided in the plate and flange for attaching to the door frame.

The inner or boX part of the casing is preferably formed from sheet metal, and comprises a rectangular portion 15 having a rear wall flange 16 bent from its rear edge, and upper and lower Wall flanges 17l7 bent from its upper and lower edges, outwardly extending base flanges 1818 being bent from the upper and lower wall flanges for attachment to the plate member 10, as by spot-welding. The portion 15 of the boX part is flush with the lip 12, as clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 7. The upper and lower walls are lanced and die struck, or otherwise suitably formed, to provide semi-circular socket portions 19, for pivotally supporting the swinging block members, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The block members 20 are provided with cylindrical bearing portions 21 adapted to fit in the socket l9 and are adapted to swing back and forth within the casing. their inner ends they are provided with abutment portions 22 contacting with each other, and are also recessed as at 23, to abut a positioning lug 2e struck up from the box portion 15 to prevent the blocks from moving beyond a medial position, should one block be pressed in independently of the other. lie cesses 25 are also formed in the frontfaces of the blocks adjacent the base surfaces in which lugs 26 bent from the front edge of the box portion 15 engage, and which serve to retain the blocks at the front before the box portion of the casing is secured to the plate 10L Spring guide rods 27 are secured, as by riveting at 28, upon the upper and lower walls 15 of the casing and have their ends engaged in passages 29 in the blocks. A helical spring 36 is mounted on each rod having one end bearing on the shoulder surface 31 of the block and its other end upon the wall 15. The rods 27 are formed upon arcs concentric to the swinging axes of the blocks, so that the blocks may swing inward against the pres sure of the springs, the springs at the same time constantly pressing the blocks outwardly.

The blocks are provided with arcuate wedge engaging surfaces 82 diverging with respect to each other and extending forwardly from horizontal flat surfaces 33 ad jacent the abutment portions 22, the spaced surfaces 33 and the arcuate surfaces 32 of the two blocks providing a recess within which the wedge member is adapted to engage.

The wedge member comprises an attaching base 34 having screw holes o5 and arigid projecting wedge shaped projection 36 having flat converging contact surfaces 37.

The arcs of the surfaces 32 are eccentric to the pivotal axes of the blocks, and in such relation to the angle of the wedge surfaces 37 that the lines of contact upon entering of the wedge, as shown in 1, are in a substantial vertical plane with the pivotal axes of the blocks, and as the wedge enters and presses the blocks inwardly the lines of contact increase their distance apart in correspondence with the taper of the wedge member while at the same time remaining substantially in the vertical plane of the pivotal axes, as indicated in Fig. 8.

The operation is as follows; the socket member being mounted on the door post, while the wedge member is mounted on the free edge of the door. When the door is in open position the blocks are projected forwardly as indicated in Fig. 1, As the door is closedthe wedge member engages between the blocks, contacting therewith before the door is completely closed, and as indicated in dotand-dash lines in Fi g. 1. The complete thereof, as

1,see,eeo

closure of the door causes the blocks to be swung inwardly against the pressure of the. springs, which hold the blocks snugly against the wedge member. The lines of cont-act being substantially in the vertical plane of the pivotal axes at all times rigidly supports the door against vertical movement, the inclination of the wedge surfaces being such that vertical pressure will not displace the blocks and cause vibration.

he door is provided with the usual latch not shown, which engages behind a striker on the door frame, and the present device is such that it permits the door to close sufficiently to allow the latch to operate, and thereupon exerts an outward pressure on the door to force the latch bolt tightly against the striker. Upon release of the latch the device exerts an opening pressure on the door.

Should the wedge member be out of alignment with the socket, due to sagging of the door or inaccurate mounting of the wedge member, the independent movement of the res ective blocks will permit them to adjust themselves to the wedge surfaces and perform their cooperative retaining function.

While l have shown the socket member on the door frame and the wedge member on the door, it will be obvious that this arrangement may be reversed, if desired.

T have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodiments of the inventen, but it will be obvious that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope defined in the appended claims. Having thus described my invention what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. in an anti-rattle d vice for doors, members movable one relatively to the other, said members having converging contact surfaces for contacting one with the other and the contact surfaces of one of said members being opposed and non-yielding in a direction transversely to the direction of relative movement of said members, one of said surfaces being formed on a pivotally mounted part yieldable in the direction of relative movement of said members but non-yielding in a direction transversely thereto.

2. In an anti-rattle device for doors, members movable one relatively to the other, said members having converging contact surfaces for contacting one with the other and the contact surfaces of one of said members being formed on a pair of opposed pivotally mounted parts yieldable in the direction of relative movement of said members but nonyielding in a direction transversely thereto.

3. In an anti-rattle device for doors, a socket member, and a wedge member adapted to be engaged therewith, one of said members comprising opposed pivotally mounted elements having'fixed pivotal axes and adapted to be swun through en a ement of the D O b b other member therewith, resilient means adapted to oppose said swinging movement, and means adapted to prevent vertical movement of the contact surfaces of said elements.

4. In an anti-rattle device for doors, a socket member, and a wedge member adapted to be en a ed therewith, one of said members ta ta socket member, and a tapered wedge member I adapted to be engaged therewith, said socket member comprisin opposed pivotally mounted elements adapted to be swung through engagement of the wedge member therewith, the contact surfaces of said elements being non-yielding in a direction transverse to the direction of relative movement of said members and presenting a wedge receiving recess between them and adapted as said wedge member is moved inwardly to widen in sub stantial correspondence to the increasing width of said wedge member.

6. In an anti-rattle device for doors, a socket member, and a tapered wedge member adapted to be engaged therewith, said socket member comprising opposed pivotally mounted elements adapted to be swung through engagement of the wedge member therewith, the contact surfaces of said elements being non-yielding in a direction transverse to the direction of relative movement of said members and presenting a wedge receiv ing recess between them and adapted as said wedge member is moved inwardly to widen at a given point Vertically in substantial correspondence to the increasing width of said wedge member.

7. In an anti-rattle device for doors, a socket member, and a tapered wedge member adapted to be engaged therewith, one of said members comprising opposed pivotally mounted elements adapted to be swung through engagement of the wedge member therewith, the pivotal axes of said elements being fixed and the contact surfaces of said elements presenting a wedge receiving recess between them adapted as said wedge member is moved inwardly to widen in substantial correspondence to the increasing width of said wedge member.

8. In an anti-rattle device for doors, a socket member, and a tapered wedge member adapted to be engaged therewith, said socket nember comprising opposed pivotally mounted elements adapted to be swung through engagement of the wed e member therewith, the contact surfaces of said elements being non-yielding in a direction transverse to the direction of relative movement of said members and presenting a wedge receiving recess between them and adapted as said wedge member is moved inwardly to widen at a given point vertically in substantial correspondence to the increasing width of said wedge member, said given point being in the vertical plane of the pivotal axes of said elements.

9. In an anti-rattle device for doors, a socket member, and a tapered wedge member adapted to be engaged therewith, said socket member comprising opposed pivotallymounted elements having fixed pivotal axes and adapted to be swung through engagement of the wedge member therewith, the contact surfaces of said elements being eccentric to said pivotal axes and presenting a wedge receiving recess between them adapted as said wedge member is moved inwardly to widen in substantial correspondence to the increasing width of said wedge member.

10. In an anti-rattle device for doors, a socket member, and a tapered wedge member adapted to be engaged therewith, said socket member comprising opposed pivotally mounted elements adapted to be swung through engagement of the other member therewith, spring means concentric to the pivotal axes of said members and adapted to oppose said swinging movement, and means adapted to prevent vertical movement of the contact surfaces of said elements.

Signed at Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, this 24th day of January, 1931.

RAYMOND G. MOORE. 

